Admn allows jagran at Kangra temple

Our Correspondent

Kangra, January 3

The district administration today reviewed and reversed the orders passed by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Kangra, to deny permission to hold a “jagran” at the Bajjreshwari temple on January 14 in connection with Makar Sankranti.

Kangra District Police Chief Sanjeev Gandhi today said a meeting of the district authorities, under the chairmanship of Kangra Deputy Commissioner CP Verma, reviewed the orders of Assistant Commissioner (Temple) and Sub Divisional Magistrate, Kangra, Debasweta Banik to deny the permission to hold the “jagran” on the temple premises keeping in view the security and disaster management issues.

This had resulted in resentment among local residents here who had even threatened to hold dharans and protests on the Makar Sankranti festival when thousands of pilgrims from all over the country visit the Bajjreshwari temple here.

Rakesh Kathuria, convener, organising samiti of Bhagwati Jagran, said the samiti had approached the temple authorities on December 22 that they should be permitted to hold the “jagran” on January 14 coinciding with Makar Sankranti as per the past practice at the Bajjreshwari temple premises here.

He said the temple officer in a communication informed the organisers that Debasweta Banik keeping in view the security and disaster management issue had denied permission to hold the “jagran” at the temple.

He claimed that such “jagrans” had been held here for the last 40 years on the temple premises and how security and disaster management issue was raised this year. He described the denial as violating the religious sentiments of people here and demanded the rollback of the order.

Sanjeev Gandhi said it was decided to permit the holding of “jagran” on the temple as per the past practice and the Police Department would plan in advance fool-proof arrangements for the event.